MojoLego

...and FTBT brings us the first big set of photos of the Ghost Train: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fbtbnet/sets/72157629295913237/with/6867345631/ It will be, no surprise, $79.99 (USD). Obviously this is the magic price point for theme trains. This time, Lego doesn't have to pay any licensing fees. They also have photos of the 4204 ($99.99), but there isn't much we didn't know: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fbtbnet/sets/72157629296835667/with/6867778383/ Looks like eight rails. Nice helmets.

I enlarged the photo and it looks like there are ridges. Sorry.

It is possibly not worth mentioning, but there is a large photograph of set 4204 and the short narrow gauge train at the NY Toy Fair from Brickshow: http://www.brickshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/20120211-192257.jpg

Video of the Monster Fighters theme at Nuremberg. The Ghost Train starts at about 1:24:

While I expect Lego to stick to a two year cycle for the exclusives, I'm wondering if they are switching to releasing one City train every year, rather than the feast-and-famine cycle of two trains every other year.

I've modified the time axis per your suggestion. Thank you. I did it in Excel, but you have to monkey around with the table and chart to get a Gannt chart (not a built-in, as you note). Microsoft's directions are at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/create-a-gantt-chart-in-excel-HA001034605.aspx A Google search brings up similar work-arounds if Microsoft's directions don't make sense. Cheers

Regarding the Maersk train, my bet would be that Lego is on a two year cycle for the Creator train sets. I expect a replacement around April of 2013. Whether Maersk lasts that long is another question. I posted a lifecycle chart earlier in this thread. Note the purple bars: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=63138&st=105&p=1174831entry1174831

In the hope that Lego is reading this, I'm going to throw out a suggestion that I made some time ago. In addition to offering track a-la-carte (and, yes, reducing the cost), parents could very much use a "layout builder" app on the Lego S&H website. The parent can choose an oval or design their own layout (with points) and the layout appears as a shopping list in the cart. In fact, beyond the all-in-one City sets, I think Lego can dispense with selling track in boxed sets and rely solely on direct Internet sales of track. This, of course, sounds a lot like LDD, but most parents aren't going to do LDD just to buy track. Instead, build the function right into the storefront. Also, I understand that PAB is labor intensive, but the labor cost of going to the track bin for one piece is going to be close to the cost of going to the bin for two or ten pieces. I remember a few years ago that I got a volume discount from S@H for a multiple order of straight and curved RC track. Would be nice to bring that back.

Here is 4204 from the Nuremberg toy festival (scroll down): http://www.thetoyspy.com/2012/02/03/kocke-klub-lego-toy-fair-showroom-pictures-lotr-friends-monsters/

Yes, too expensive. But let's applaud Lego for moving in the right direction. For a while there I was wondering if Lego was going to eliminate standard curves. I'm sure someone at Lego has floated the idea of using flex-track for everything. In addition to the labor cost, Lego also has to think about how PAB cannibalizes set sales. How many people looked at the level crossing and thought, "at least I get four more straights." For now, I'm less concerned about the cost of track than the limited track options. A crossing? A Wye switch? And might Lego think about posting the narrow gauge track on PAB? And where is the narrow gauge straight hiding? Pity the Lego employee that reads our endless list of demands.

Sorry. I've added a line.

Just for fun, a post 9v product chart; bars indicate product availability (using U.S. dates from Brickset). Green: City Trains Red: Track Blue: Structures Purple: Creator Engines Yellow: Theme/Specialty Trains Orange: Narrow Gauge Sets

It looks like the Emerald Night is finally out of stock at all the national (U.S.) retailers. Third-party sales at Amazon continue and the price is up to $150. Craigslist is the only place that I'm finding deals on old sets.

After Amazon sells out, I think Target will be the last national retailer with the the set in stock, but not for long.

I think Amazon may have gotten wise to the technique. I'm unable to place more than 100 items in my cart now.

It's a troll.

Hogwarts Express is sold out at S@H in the U.S., Amazon, & Toys R Us. It is early in the Christmas shopping season for a particular train to be unavailable at so many places. Is this a sign that the set is at the end of its run?

In the US, the RC parts alone take you to $55 before taxes and shipping. Add in to the equation that: -Lego is currently not selling standard curves (still available in the complete City sets and on Bricklink) -Two of the RC parts are backordered to October You may well decide that it is preferable to get a complete City set instead of buying part-by-part. You also might want to consider set 3677 because it comes with a red battery box, something that would be a little easier to integrate into the Hogwarts Express. Cheers

r1chard, Check out the motor and track sections of the following introductory guide on the US Amazon site: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/RXFSIU63PESVG/ It will point you to the parts and track that you need (almost all of which are available either from Lego.com or Bricklink). The main problem with 4841 is, as others have noted, that the battery box is larger than the tender. Cheers

I love the old monorails. I managed to buy a used Airport monorail for a song this year. It is an absolutely beautiful set and the kids love it. However... Compared to PF and 9v train systems, monorail is a big pain to set up and break down. If you haven't played with one of these before but find yourself imploring Lego to restart the assembly line, take a close look at how the track sections are connected. You've got to align the ends (often atop a column) and lock the sections together with a flat 1x4 from both sides. This is not a big issue if you leave your Lego out all the time, but most families don't. Add to this the limitations of the old track geometry, and the fact that it was more of a road with a cog, and I've got to join in the call for an entirely new type of track. This is not terribly realistic since any new rail system cannibalizes the existing train system (which, rumor has it, already lacks the profit margins of Lego's other lines). But if Lego did invest in a new track, I'd argue for these technical specifications: -Use technic pin joints between sections for fast assembly/disassembly; use of technic pins to join downward to the towers. -Track measuring approximately two studs wide and two bricks high. -Only two types of track, both of them flexible: 1) A type that is horizontally flexible (think about the existing flex track for trains) but with very small distances between joints so as to approximate a smoother, true curve. This type of track would be use for ALL horizontal applications: straights, turns of varying radii, and switches (constructed mostly out of technic parts). 2) A type that is vertically flexible so as to accommodate grade changes. Again, the distance between flex joins would need to be small so that the ride is not terribly bumpy. The rest of the system would be, as others noted, PF derived. Would it be possible to sell Lego on a new monorail system that requires only two new, but admittedly complex, parts?

I think it is interesting that Amazon offered what is supposedly a niche set right from the start. If my memory serves, I think it was a few months after release that Amazon offered the Emerald Night. And Amazon appears to have a significant supply of 10219 in stock. Someone at Amazon or Lego is seeing to it that the initial sales bump is captured before TRU lists the set. This is the way to go for Lego if they want to increase their margins on lower volume products.

Amazon US has them in stock. The set has climbed very fast in the rankings and is now #8 in Building and Construction toys (i.e., it is the 8th most popular Lego set right now).

Holy Smoke! Maybe they'll offer some different radius curves as well?!

I found this set at a yard sale. Whole or in parts, it is just odd. Style-wise, it is closest to the Futuron monorail. I would take those split-levels train bases and start building more container cars for 10219.

I'm converted. I agree with the poster who voted for the Deutsche Bahn AG Class 185.